5 great Arizona swimming holes

Splash it up in these 5 swimming holes

Tucked here and there near mountain springs and along tributaries of rivers, these natural spas are popular with hikers, picnickers and just about anyone who enjoys soaking al fresco.

Some you can practically drive to, others require a short walk or a bit of a scramble. A few can only be reached after a long, hard hike.

Just remember that you're not the only person who wants to cool off. You can expect a crowd at any of these spots on any summer weekend, so plan accordingly.

Water Wheel

The Mogollon Rim country north of Payson - crisscrossed by who knows how many creeks and canyons - is prime territory for swimming holes. Some of the most popular ones are found just east of the Water Wheel Campground, a recreation area off Forest Road 199.

As you hike east along the creek, you'll encounter a series of swimming holes. The first few are wide and shallow, the ones farther east are narrower and fairly deep. The farther upstream you go, the fewer people you'll find.

About a quarter-mile from the road is a series of small waterfalls and elongated pools at the base of a narrow granite gorge, polished smooth by water and time.

Admission: Free.

Where: From Phoenix, take Arizona 87 (the Beeline Highway) north to Payson. About 2 miles north of Arizona 260, turn east (right) onto Houston Mesa Road and continue 7.6 miles to a large camping/picnic site on the right. Park here and walk up the creek.

Details: 928-474-7900.

Slide Rock State Park

What's more fun than swooshing through the natural waterslides of Oak Creek on a hot summer day? Kids and adults enjoy the refreshing swimming holes and smooth rock chutes, set amid the exquisite scenery along Oak Creek Canyon.

With easy access and plenty of amenities, including restrooms, picnic tables and a small concession and gift shop, Slide Rock State Park is popular, especially on summer weekends.

Take a break from your splashing and soaking with a stroll along one of the short hiking trails. The rich riparian area is good for bird watchers.

No pets or glass containers are permitted in the swimming areas.

Admission: $10 per vehicle ($8 after Labor Day).

Where: From Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Exit 298 (the Sedona exit), then follow Arizona 179 west and north about 15 miles into Sedona. Now take Arizona 89A north about 7 miles to the park.

Bell Crossing

When rancher Charles Bell built his cattle trail in the 1930s, chances are good he never dreamed it would become such an appealing outing for hikers.

After a long, hot 3.5-mile hike across an only modestly scenic landscape, the crossing - where the Bell Trail crosses Wet Beaver Creek - appears as an oasis, shaded by cottonwoods, sycamores, willows and ash.

To reach the swimming hole, sometimes referred to as "the Crack," head upstream from the crossing to a series of wide and, in places, fairly deep pools along the creek, perfect for a quick dip.

Although it can be a bit of a scramble in places to get beyond the Crack, the farther you go, the fewer the people.

Admission: Free.

Where: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Exit 298 (the Sedona exit). Turn east and follow Forest Road 618 about 2 miles southeast, then turn left onto FR 618A and proceed to the parking area.

Hell's Gate

Only a summer in Phoenix could make a place called Hell's Gate sound inviting.

Despite its name, Hell's Gate Wilderness is a lovely place, with ragged rock walls towering hundreds of feet and a lush riparian corridor providing a swath of green through the desert.

It's a long, hot, steep and strenuous hike down to Hell's Gate, but it only makes the creek that much more inviting. And it cuts way down on the crowds.

The route gets a bit sketchy once you reach the creek, but a trail continues on the other side, winding west a couple of hundred yards to where Haigler Creek joins Tonto Creek. The banks are rather brushy, but there are a handful of good camping spots near the confluence and the verdant areas along the creeks are inviting places.

Admission: Free.

Where: From Phoenix, take Arizona 87 (the Beeline Highway) north to Payson. Turn east on Arizona 260 and go about 11 miles. At mile marker 263, turn south onto the unsigned Forest Road 405A and drive half a mile to the trailhead.

Details: 928-474-7900.

Havasu Falls

This trip requires a lot of planning, a few bucks and a long hike, but just keep reminding yourself how wonderful you'll feel when you're soaking in the turquoise waters of Havasu Falls in the western Grand Canyon.

Whether you stay at the lodge in Supai Village or the campground beyond, you can explore Havasu, Mooney and Navajo falls. If that's not enough water for you, you can hike all the way down to the Colorado River.

From Hualapai Hilltop, roughly 60 miles north of Seligman, it's a moderately difficult 8-mile hike to Supai Village and another 2 miles to the campground.

Admission: $35 per person to enter the Havasupai Reservation, $5 per person environmental-care fee, $17 per person per night camping fee, $145 per night to stay at the lodge (up to four people).

Where: From Phoenix, take I-17 north to Flagstaff. Turn west on I-40 and go about 75 miles to Seligman. Take Route 66 about 28 miles northwest to Indian Route 18. Turn right and go about 60 miles to the parking area at Hualapai Hilltop. There are no facilities at the trailhead, but you may camp there. No permits or fees required.